IT\'S HERE: Class Action Suit Against Merck over Propercia

Suit is being brought against Merck Canadas. Someone needs to get one going in the U.S. One of Canada’s top class action firms has taken the case so there must be something to it.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/class-action-filed-against-manufacturer-of-propecia-proscar-2011-01-24

VANCOUVER, Jan. 24, 2011 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) – Lawsuit filed for men who suffer sexual dysfunction after using hair loss drug.

A class action was filed today in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by Vancouver resident, Michael Miller, against Merck Frosst Canada and its affiliated companies. The lawsuit has been brought on behalf of Canadian men who used Propecia or Proscar and suffered continuing sexual dysfunction.

Propecia and Proscar are prescribed as a cosmetic treatment for male pattern hair loss also known as androgenic alopecia. The product monograph discloses that some men may experience sexual dysfunction but states that the symptoms disappear after cessation of the drug.

Mr. Miller, who is in his early 20s, was concerned when his hair started to thin in some areas. He was prescribed Proscar which he hoped would stop his hair from thinning. After about a month of use he noticed a drastic change in his behaviour, “I lost my interest in sex and I felt anxious in social situations for no particular reason,” he says. While on the drug, his symptoms of sexual dysfunction increased as the months passed. When he could no longer bear the side effects, he stopped using Proscar but these symptoms didn’t go away: “My sexual functioning has not recovered, I have seen specialists and have tried treatments but nothing has worked,” says Mr. Miller.

According to Mr. Miller’s lawyer, David Klein, “The product labels have been changed in several European countries to include a warning of persistent erectile dysfunction after discontinuation of the drug but this change has not been made on the Canadian product labels.” It is alleged that the drug manufacturers failed to adequately warn Canadians of the true risks.

Klein also says, “So far, more than 80 Canadian men have expressed an interest in participating in the class action. We believe there are many other men who will come forward now that the case has been filed in court.”

Mr. Miller is represented by Klein Lyons, one of Canada’s most experienced class action law firms.

» Suit is being brought against Merck Canadas. Someone needs to get one going
» in the U.S. One of Canada’s top class action firms has taken the case so
» there must be something to it.
»
»
» http://www.marketwatch.com/story/class-action-filed-against-manufacturer-of-propecia-proscar-2011-01-24
»
» VANCOUVER, Jan. 24, 2011 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) – Lawsuit filed for
» men who suffer sexual dysfunction after using hair loss drug.
»
» A class action was filed today in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by
» Vancouver resident, Michael Miller, against Merck Frosst Canada and its
» affiliated companies. The lawsuit has been brought on behalf of Canadian
» men who used Propecia or Proscar and suffered continuing sexual
» dysfunction.
»
» Propecia and Proscar are prescribed as a cosmetic treatment for male
» pattern hair loss also known as androgenic alopecia. The product monograph
» discloses that some men may experience sexual dysfunction but states that
» the symptoms disappear after cessation of the drug.
»
» Mr. Miller, who is in his early 20s, was concerned when his hair started to
» thin in some areas. He was prescribed Proscar which he hoped would stop his
» hair from thinning. After about a month of use he noticed a drastic change
» in his behaviour, “I lost my interest in sex and I felt anxious in social
» situations for no particular reason,” he says. While on the drug, his
» symptoms of sexual dysfunction increased as the months passed. When he
» could no longer bear the side effects, he stopped using Proscar but these
» symptoms didn’t go away: “My sexual functioning has not recovered, I have
» seen specialists and have tried treatments but nothing has worked,” says
» Mr. Miller.
»
» According to Mr. Miller’s lawyer, David Klein, “The product labels have
» been changed in several European countries to include a warning of
» persistent erectile dysfunction after discontinuation of the drug but this
» change has not been made on the Canadian product labels.” It is alleged
» that the drug manufacturers failed to adequately warn Canadians of the true
» risks.
»
» Klein also says, “So far, more than 80 Canadian men have expressed an
» interest in participating in the class action. We believe there are many
» other men who will come forward now that the case has been filed in court.”
»
»
» Mr. Miller is represented by Klein Lyons, one of Canada’s most experienced

Perhaps THIS is the real reason the makers of Avodart didn’t bother to seek approval for their drug for hair loss.
» class action law firms.

Not that I don’t believe this guy had a problem but I wonder why some people have these side effects, I have been on propecia for more than a year and have not had any side effects. My sex drive is exactly the same as it was prior to starting the drug. Is there any scientific explanation why some men are so drastically effected by it? I’m actually curious to understand the biological explanation behind it.

» Perhaps THIS is the real reason the makers of Avodart didn’t bother to seek
» approval for their drug for hair loss.
» » class action law firms.

I’m sure they did a cost-benefit analysis of selling Avodart as a hair drug, and when they factored-in the possibility of scum sucking lawyers and their clients with real or imaginary side-effects, they decided too much aggravation and gave it up.

» » Perhaps THIS is the real reason the makers of Avodart didn’t bother to
» seek
» » approval for their drug for hair loss.
» » » class action law firms.
»
» I’m sure they did a cost-benefit analysis of selling Avodart as a hair
» drug, and when they factored-in the possibility of scum sucking lawyers and
» their clients with real or imaginary side-effects, they decided too much
» aggravation and gave it up.

I heard DHT is important for brain function and prevents Alzheimers. Also from some of the online forums people say that Propecia causes brain fog and depression.

I honestly dont mind killing my libido. But i dont want man boobs, brain fog, and depression.

there is a large scale double blind study to measure side effects of propecia.

it turned out the people on placebo reported a greater incidence of side effects than those on propecia.

try arguing against that in court.

» » » Perhaps THIS is the real reason the makers of Avodart didn’t bother to
» » seek
» » » approval for their drug for hair loss.
» » » » class action law firms.
» »
» » I’m sure they did a cost-benefit analysis of selling Avodart as a hair
» » drug, and when they factored-in the possibility of scum sucking lawyers
» and
» » their clients with real or imaginary side-effects, they decided too much
» » aggravation and gave it up.
»
» I heard DHT is important for brain function and prevents Alzheimers. Also
» from some of the online forums people say that Propecia causes brain fog
» and depression.
»
» I honestly dont mind killing my libido. But i dont want man boobs, brain
» fog, and depression.

I heard that Elvis it is working on McDonalls, so it is truth ?
Propecia ( just propecia, without counting the generic versions and the people that use proscar ) sold 500 millions dollars in 2010 .
About the braing fog, guess what ? Finasteride only inhibit the type 1 of 5-alphareductase which it is not present in the brain !!! that simple tell you all, so even if this drug enter into the brain ( not all drugs do it ) it will not cause any dht withdraw there. Besides, 80 guys !? lol, there are at least 30 millions user of this drugs worldwide.
Then people ask why they do not found the cure for hair loss, simple cause this kind of crap .
Besides, this is hair multiplication forum, so who care about this post ?
I really do not undestand people that thing that everything they read on the net it is truth.
There are dumb people , and there placebo effect, put both things together and you will be hearing the craziers side effects ever.

Even if this is true and Merck will losse one thing is clear now

“The argument the whole pharmaceutical indutry will put their fingers on hair multiplication”

IS WRONG

» » » » Perhaps THIS is the real reason the makers of Avodart didn’t bother
» to
» » » seek
» » » » approval for their drug for hair loss.
» » » » » class action law firms.
» » »
» » » I’m sure they did a cost-benefit analysis of selling Avodart as a hair
» » » drug, and when they factored-in the possibility of scum sucking
» lawyers
» » and
» » » their clients with real or imaginary side-effects, they decided too
» much
» » » aggravation and gave it up.
» »
» » I heard DHT is important for brain function and prevents Alzheimers.
» Also
» » from some of the online forums people say that Propecia causes brain fog
» » and depression.
» »
» » I honestly dont mind killing my libido. But i dont want man boobs, brain
» » fog, and depression.
»
» I heard that Elvis it is working on McDonalls, so it is truth ?
» Propecia ( just propecia, without counting the generic versions and the
» people that use proscar ) sold 500 millions dollars in 2010 .
» About the braing fog, guess what ? Finasteride only inhibit the type 1 of
» 5-alphareductase which it is not present in the brain !!! that simple tell
» you all, so even if this drug enter into the brain ( not all drugs do it )
» it will not cause any dht withdraw there. Besides, 80 guys !? lol, there
» are at least 30 millions user of this drugs worldwide.
» Then people ask why they do not found the cure for hair loss, simple cause
» this kind of crap .
» Besides, this is hair multiplication forum, so who care about this post ?
» I really do not undestand people that thing that everything they read on
» the net it is truth.
» There are dumb people , and there placebo effect, put both things together
» and you will be hearing the craziers side effects ever.

80 people is actually quite a large investigation. I would have thought it was less… Do you realize how expensive these things are?

» there is a large scale double blind study to measure side effects of
» propecia.
»
» it turned out the people on placebo reported a greater incidence of side
» effects than those on propecia.
»
» try arguing against that in court.

Maybe in some groups of men … but I’ve read/heard of dozens of accounts of the drug causing severe reduction in sexual libido, brain fog, etc. on it. For the time period I used it (about 3 months) I definitely experienced those kinds of side affects.

DHT isn’t in your body for sh*ts and giggles, it’s one of the key hormones that basically makes a man (well) a “man” as opposed to a woman.

Simply axing it in the body or trying to reduce it to nill probably always was probably asking for trouble IMO.

» Maybe in some groups of men … but I’ve read/heard of dozens of accounts
» of the drug causing severe reduction in sexual libido, brain fog, etc. on

I’ve been here almost 8 to 10 years. In that time I’ve seen all kinds of people read testimonials of side effects and start hallucinating they have side effect themselves. Usually starts with one guy posting about side effects and whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Just look at this guy who posted about his lawsuit in all forums on this board.

Ever notice NONE of the evidence is ever easily verifiable with photographic evidence. Its never something like a rash where a picture can be taken to prove its existance.

» Simply axing it in the body or trying to reduce it to nill probably always
» was probably asking for trouble IMO.

That’s like saying diabetics don’t have insulin in their body for a reason. DHT has no demonstratable purpose other than genital formation in the womb and growth till age 18.

» » Maybe in some groups of men … but I’ve read/heard of dozens of
» accounts
» » of the drug causing severe reduction in sexual libido, brain fog, etc.
» on
»
» I’ve been here almost 8 to 10 years. In that time I’ve seen all kinds of
» people read testimonials of side effects and start hallucinating they have
» side effect themselves. Usually starts with one guy posting about side
» effects and whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Just look at this guy who
» posted about his lawsuit in all forums on this board.
»
» Ever notice NONE of the evidence is ever easily verifiable with
» photographic evidence. Its never something like a rash where a picture can
» be taken to prove its existance.
»
» » Simply axing it in the body or trying to reduce it to nill probably
» always
» » was probably asking for trouble IMO.
»
» That’s like saying diabetics don’t have insulin in their body for a reason.
» DHT has no demonstratable purpose other than genital formation in the womb
» and growth till age 18.

All I can say is from what I tried of Propecia, I definitely had very noticeable side affects in the reduction of sexual libido. It wasn’t some imaginary thing I made up.

If it was just a pill that you could take and maintain most of your hair with no issues whatsoever, I have to believe more men would be using it (including me).

» there is a large scale double blind study to measure side effects of
» propecia.
»
» it turned out the people on placebo reported a greater incidence of side
» effects than those on propecia.
»
» try arguing against that in court.

I have read all of the FDA files on finasteride dose finding and propecia and what you are saying is simply not true. For low incidence side effects some where within the noise of the trials. I do not have the papers anymore but I am sure you can find them on the net. for propecia here is a link. You will see that several sexual side effects were significant.

Freddy, you are making a lot of comments on the board about thing that you think are true or should be true whereas you don’t actually know and more often than not you are plainly, giving wrong information as fact.

People react very differently to drugs and that is a reality. Whether or not a 5-AR inhibitor can, in some people produce quasi irreversible sexual side effects, I do not know and nether do you.

I know we hear about people that are imagining things or scaremongering because they had sides or i dont know what. But we rarely comment on the other kind of people.

People who are so dependant on this drug on the fear of loosing their hair that they need to defend it every chance they get. I mean whats the reason for commenting again and again about how they dont have any problems if not for reassuring themselves that everything is fine. Maybe they are even afraid that all this talking about sides will give them sides!

I think most if us have seen somekind of sideeffect from using this drug especially if you are a long time user. Some people put it in a scale and say hair are more important to me and minor sideeffects dont bother me so much compared to the benefit.

What is scary is what the future holds and how many more things we will learn about propecia over the years. I think lowering your dht and altering how your hormones work for hair logically isnt the best thing you can do to your body, if it was a more important condition like the condition proscar is used for then the trade off isnt that bad. But for cosmetic reasons taking a pill a day to lower your DHT isnt the best thing you can do since you are not sick and there is nothing wrong with your health and how your body works ,but i guess for some people hair is the most important thing.

» That’s like saying diabetics don’t have insulin in their body for a reason.
» DHT has no demonstratable purpose other than genital formation in the womb
» and growth till age 18.

that is an extremely arrogant and ignorant statement… The biochemistry of the human body is extremely complicated… and definitely far to complex to make such a general statement… i doubt you will find any serious biochemists willing to make that statement…

I will say that I have experienced and continue to experience sever side effects due to propecia. I’ve had a decreased libido, ejacualtion that doesn’t go as far, depression, etc. I have not imagined these side effects and saw numerous drs. about them.

Besides, it is pretty telling that Merck changed the labeling in some countries to warn of permanent sexual side effects. It is obviously not imaginary as some ppl here think.

» You will see that several sexual side effects were significant.
»
» http://www.drugs.com/pro/propecia.html
»

I bet you posted that link without even reading it.

Discontinuation due to drug-related sexual adverse experiences
Propecia : 1.2%
Placebo : 0.9%

The result is NOT statistically significant.

“Like all prescription products, Propecia may cause side effects. In clinical studies, side effects from Propecia were uncommon and did not affect most men. A small number of men experienced certain sexual side effects… Each of these side effects occurred in less than 2% of men. These side effects went away in men who stopped taking Propecia. They also disappeared in most men who continued taking Propecia.”

» But for cosmetic reasons
» taking a pill a day to lower your DHT isnt the best thing you can do since
» you are not sick and there is nothing wrong with your health

How do you know that.

Heart disease affects men with vertex baldness at a far higher rate than non-balding men. DHT has a role to play in prostate cancer as well. When you say lowering your DHT isn’t good, what are you basing that on? Just because something is there or isn’t there doesn’t mean its good for you.

Lack of insulin among diabetics is not a good thing. Taking insulin isn’t a bad thing. Taking crack isn’t a good thing.

» » You will see that several sexual side effects were significant.
» »
» » http://www.drugs.com/pro/propecia.html
» »
»
» I bet you posted that link without even reading it.
»
» Discontinuation due to drug-related sexual adverse experiences
» Propecia : 1.2%
» Placebo : 0.9%

» The result is NOT statistically significant.
»
» “Like all prescription products, Propecia may cause side effects. In
» clinical studies, side effects from Propecia were uncommon and did not
» affect most men. A small number of men experienced certain sexual side
» effects… Each of these side effects occurred in less than 2% of men.
» These side effects went away in men who stopped taking Propecia. They also
» disappeared in most men who continued taking Propecia.”

First of all you said that the placebo arm actually showed more sexual side effect numbers than the test group.

in your reply in this thread relating to a class action on sexual side effects: “it turned out the people on placebo reported a greater incidence of side effects than those on propecia.”

even by your own admission above this is not true. below is a further extract.

" At Month 12, statistically significant differences in favor of placebo were found in 3 of 4 domains (sexual interest, erections, and perception of sexual problems). However, no significant difference was seen in the question on overall satisfaction with sex life."

» » But for cosmetic reasons
» » taking a pill a day to lower your DHT isnt the best thing you can do
» since
» » you are not sick and there is nothing wrong with your health
»
» How do you know that.
»
» Heart disease affects men with vertex baldness at a far higher rate than
» non-balding men. DHT has a role to play in prostate cancer as well. When
» you say lowering your DHT isn’t good, what are you basing that on? Just
» because something is there or isn’t there doesn’t mean its good for you.
»
» Lack of insulin among diabetics is not a good thing. Taking insulin isn’t
» a bad thing. Taking crack isn’t a good thing.

how do you know that? I can introduce you to a few crack experts who having been using it for many years who can assure you that crack is a good thing!